from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Warden \Ward"en\, n. [OE. wardein, OF. wardein, gardein,
gardain, F. gardien. See {Guardian}, and {Ward} guard.]
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1. A keeper; a guardian; a watchman.
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He called to the warden on the . . . battlements.
--Sir. W.
Scott.
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2. An officer who keeps or guards; a keeper; as, the warden
of a prison.
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3. A head official; as, the warden of a college; specifically
(Eccl.), a churchwarden.
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4. [Properly, a keeping pear.] A large, hard pear, chiefly
used for baking and roasting. [Obs.]
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I would have had him roasted like a warden. --Beau.
& Fl.
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{Warden pie}, a pie made of warden pears. [Obs.] --Shak.
[1913 Webster] Wardenry